Digital Rights Management: The Battle over Content Rages On January 31, 2006

As the battle over where and from whom consumers will access their content escalates, digital rights management (DRM) looms as the 800-pound gorilla. Content owners have widely accepted digital rights management as a means of protecting their business models, but methods and technologies vary so greatly that the entertainment industry can't settle on a single solution - and threatens the growth of the digital home entertainment industry. The success of DRM will depend largely on its ability to provide a balance between copyright protection for content creators and ease of use for consumers. Simplification in the digital rights space - by way of the adoption of standards and increased interoperability - is the key to achieving such a balance. Does DRM succeed in damping the threat of piracy, or does it serve to lock consumers into a limited selection of playback choices? This forum outlines the issues surrounding the management of content in the digital environment from the various industry perspectives.